I didn’t take the time to read all the responses, but when I started Citalopram (=Celexa), I had major issues, which only lasted, TGIF for about a week or maybe two. It was odd to have zero sex-drive, being a relatively young man living alone for the past few years, but a mild sedative effect was somewhat welcome, given that I started taking it for anxiety, rather than major depression.
The undesirable side-effects went away as I became acclimated to the drug (20mg), but it was still slightly odd, the recognition that such a seemingly-impotent medicine could have had such an effect upon me. Sweating, yes – that passed for me. The extremely vivid dreams (not nightmares, but extremely vivid and lifelike, and in rapid succession) have continued, but I find them kind of amusing. Depressed libido, somewhat, still, but I could just be getting older, and I can still rub out some knuckle children without the dullness of sensation when I first started this course of medication.
I experimented, later, with ramping up to 30mg and then to 40mg, without consulting my physician, and found the undesirable results returned. Nothing at all bad happened upon returning to my usual 20mg qd, but it didn’t work well for me. Despite the many anecdotes of terrible things happening to you should you discontinue use, I’ve had nothing to speak of for weeks on travel without my pills, and my physician, a very well-respected internist on the West Coast of the U.S., has never given me cause to lay in a supply for the Zombie Amageddon.
To echo above, I still somewhat rarely know if a conversation or scenario has occured IRL or in a dream. It’s an odd feeling.
The main side effect I had from Celexa (and also from Paxil) was loss of libido. Complete and utter loss of libido. Zero interest. I was like that for years.
That was an odd one, OpalCat – butterhorn shoehorse was weirder in my dreams, but having zero libido – odd. When I wasn’t with a woman in my twenties and early thirties, I’d beat off numerous times qd, and it was perfectly normal. Not so with Celexa. Odd.
I took Celexa off and on for 5 years or so. I never had any real side effects. I did take a low dosage though. Coming off it I had whatmacallit, when you pump and pump but can’t reach oil? That subsided eventually though.
Image trying to get a cancer drug on the market that had a record like Celexa: This medication will redue cancer in 1/3 of the people who take it for a minimum of six weeks. If it doesn’t work for you, we can boost it with another medication. Some people may have increased cancer activity when they take this medication.
I just started taking celexa/ citalopram and have only taken 3 doses. I know everyone is told at least a week before you can expect any form or relief. I already feel different. It could very well just be “side effects.” I feel slightly calmer. I suffer with extreme anxiety. To the point im anxious just with the thought of taking my two year old out to run errands. I sit at home with consistant anxiety and worry. I was unable to deal with my relationship in a calm manner, and recently lost it with my fiance. Things were not going well for some months before, I was convienced he was cheating on me and did not love me as he was growing more and more distant. I felt he didnt care to do family things. I needed more of him and sadly still do. Im regretful for how I have handled my fears and anxiety in the past and Im very happy I am (hopefully) on the road to recovery. I went to my Dr. and cried and cried explaining I needed help handling my emotions. I wanted to keep my family. I know my fiance doesnt love me anymore and all I can pray is that he someday does again. We share a daughter and they mean the world to me. I cant live with out either of them. I told her I suffer from being overly emotional. I cry very very easily. Even watching tv. I feel too sensitive. I suffer from PMS. My finace says I seem to have a huge mood swing every 3 weeks. Im sure I have a hormonal imbalance as well. I snap very quickly. I am always terrified of how others (even strangers) view my parenting or how I react to my daughter when she acts up in front of others. I was feeling so down and alone every day and every night. My fiance was never home. I was with the baby by myself every minuet. When he did come home I needed him and he couldnt be there for me. Or chose to be close to me. I was suffering and It was really adding up. I am never NOT anxious in my relationship or as a mother. Its very hard for me. This isnt me. I have a huge heart and want to feel better. I need my fiances love again. Dr. put me on 20mg and said take it immediatly. She said give it 1-2 weeks before I see or feel anything. But a full month to work well. The first night I took it and 30 min later I felt the need to lay down and sleep. I could hardly talk to my parents on the phone. I was SOOOO tired. Then it followed by I was so so restless, nausous, brain was fogged and I was anxious. I did finally sleep. I have taken it 3 full nights. buy the second day being on it, I felt less emotional. I had been crying every night due to losing my faince and him being done with what we had. I cant seem to even cry now if I wanted to. I am slightly more patient with my daughter. Shes really high strung and always causing trouble. I feel slightly fogged. I am confident that will go away. Ive had some dry mouth and jaw clenching. I am sleeping slightly better I suppose. I know im not imaging feeling these effects already as I before had no control over my anxiety at all. I wouldnt be able to make this feeling up. I feel calmer. I hope that since this is only day 3 I will continue to do well on this med. what I dont want is to become zombie like or emotionless. Hopeful that in a month or two im back to smiling and being my loving self. Its hard when you feel like your alone all the time, not loved, and scared and anxious all the time. I was so happy when I met my fiance and when I had my daughter. I know what happiness is and I WILL see it again soon, I have a feeling much sooner than I thought. I just cant understand how this med could be starting to work already. I pray for all of you that suffer with anxiety. Its hard. And much harder when the person you love isnt there for you. I am striving to make positive changes every day and NOT think negative every minuet of the day. Im already well on my way I believe. I truly believe this. Anyone who can shed some insight on this post feel free. Im still in a very dark and sad time in my life. I want nothing more than to be the BEST loving fiance and mother I can be. Im truly hopeful with this med. I have had small side effects but havent even made it through a full week. I am hopeful not to gain weight on this med either. I cant afford the weight gain as I am still 10 pounds heavier than the 143 I weighed when I got pregnant with our daughter. I was 164 lbs 1.5 weeks ago, but after my horrible fall out with fiance, I lost 10 full pounds in that amount of time from stress and not eating. I hope this med doesnt make me gain and if anything helps me lose 15-20. Thanks for reading this long post im still sruggling alot. I have no one to talk to as my finace was my everything. He was the person I always went to. So sad I lost his love. I wont stop trying to love him and trying for his love though.
I was like that for years.